Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2023

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding the left knee condition, bilateral tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral tinnitus and right ear hearing loss have been granted.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss is being remanded.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as his initial compensable evaluations for deviated nasal septum and tension headaches, were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a nexus between these conditions and active duty service.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for tinnitus is remanded due to inadequate rationale in the VA examination.,The Veteran's claim of service connection for right ear hearing loss is remanded due to inadequate rationale in the VA examination.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The Veteran's claims will be reviewed again with an appropriate examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been readjudicated due to the submission of new and relevant evidence. The claims for pes planus, hearing loss, back impairment, left ankle impairment, right ankle impairment, tinnitus, and left finger impairment are all being remanded for further development.,New and relevant evidence has been submitted in support of the Veteran's service connection claims for pes planus, hearing loss, back impairment, left ankle impairment, right ankle impairment, tinnitus, and left finger impairment. These claims will be reconsidered.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus manifested in service and has persisted since, granting service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability and associated radiculopathy of the bilateral legs have been granted service connection, but an earlier effective date is denied.,Service connection for tinnitus has been granted, but an earlier effective date is denied.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for a duodenal ulcer, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus has been granted. The issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are remanded.

The Veteran's tinnitus is rated at the maximum schedular rating of 10 percent, and an additional extraschedular evaluation is denied.,Service connection for tuberculosis is not granted as there is no current diagnosis.,Service connection for a stomach disability is not granted due to lack of evidence linking it to service or environmental exposures.,The Veteran's dental condition does not meet the criteria for service connection for compensation purposes.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder, left knee, and right knee disabilities (excluding chondromalacia) have been denied. The Board found that the evidence does not support a finding of in-service injury or disease related to these conditions.,Service connection was granted for right knee chondromalacia, but the Veteran's claims for other knee disabilities remain on appeal.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no current diagnosis of a disability.,The earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for tinnitus prior to July 9, 2018, is denied due to lack of evidence showing an increase in severity within one year prior to the claim.,The earlier effective date for the increased rating of the headache disability prior to July 9, 2018, is denied as there is no evidence of an ascertainable increase in severity within one year prior to the claim.,The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent for her headache disability is denied.

The Board dismissed the claims for service connection for tinnitus and right foot disability as the claim for tinnitus has been granted, and the right foot disability was not found to be related to service or herbicide exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, particularly his lumbar spine and lower extremity musculoskeletal and neurological conditions, necessitate regular aid and attendance of another person. The evidence is in relative equipoise as to whether these conditions result in the need for such assistance.

The Board has denied service connection for tinnitus and remanded the claim for a lower back disability due to insufficient evidence in the current VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal to have the effective date for his service connection for tinnitus changed was dismissed because he withdrew his claim before a decision could be made.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (PTSD, diabetes, peripheral neuropathy, and tinnitus) render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation consistent with his education and work history.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's conditions did not have their onset during service or manifest to a compensable degree within one year of separation. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's appeal includes multiple issues related to various disabilities, including tinnitus, shoulder and knee conditions, vertigo, migraines, GERD, ED, and hearing loss. The Board has remanded these issues for further development.,The Veteran is seeking service connection for several disabilities that are secondary to his service-connected psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection in an August 2022 rating decision, and the appellant is eligible to receive a direct payment of agent fees based on past-due benefits awarded for this grant.